Chapter 12
Sir Keyon
I patted her arm, rolled off the bed, and said, “Get some rest. We’ll leave town tomorrow.” I trudged out of the bedroom, adjusting my tortured cock in my pants with a frustrated grunt.
“Someday, big guy,” I muttered, not sure if I was referring to my dragon or my cock—perhaps both. One did kind of control the other.
I stripped and threw on some pajama bottoms, then released my wings, stretching them wide like I was trying to push my anxiety out with them. Elpis’s feet slapped purposefully through the suite, and I watched her collect every single pillow and blanket she could find. When she disappeared back into the bedroom, I crouched to settle by the chair for the night, but her footsteps came right back and made a beeline for me.
I gave her a questioning look when she held out a hand for me to take but got distracted by her nightgown. It was an opaque satin and went down to her ankles, but it left little to the imagination where the shape of her breasts was concerned. They swayed and jiggled freely with every movement, and her nipples pressed excitedly against the fabric. Those little vixens.
Oh, come on, Elpis. I was just starting to calm down!
“Just take my hand,” Elpis urged gently, and I frowned at her fingers. Was this a trap? An Elpis-sized trap? I grabbed her hand, stood, and let her drag me to the bedroom. My brows shot up when I saw a massive wall of pillows and blankets running down the middle of the bed.
“Look!” she said excitedly, crawling under the covers on one side and flailing with her arms and legs. “I can’t attack you! You can safely sleep in the bed! I don’t want you on the floor again. It’s really comfy.”
I gawked at her dramatic rendition of a female unable to assault an unsuspecting male and thought it was the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life. As silly as it seemed, Toast would probably really appreciate this gesture. She was earning his trust directly now by her actions.
I swallowed heavily at her adamant optimism. She deserved so much better than what we could give her. She truly was the best. “You’re a remarkable female, Elpis Eudokia,” I said softly, struggling to not choke on my words. I retracted my wings and slid under the sheets on my side of the bed. She was right. It was blissfully comfortable, so fucking nice to get a break from the forest floor.
I blew out the lamp and stared into the darkness. “Good night,” Elpis said, yawning.
“Sleep well, moonflower,” I replied wearily, wishing I could give her so much more than words.
Predawn filtered through the curtains, filling the bedroom with a dim blue glow. I lay on my back and stared drowsily at the ceiling. The night had been rough. I’d kept waking, finding out that I had knocked over a bunch of pillows and blankets to sleep closer to Elpis. My body was adamantly drawn to her, and I wondered if I should have just stayed on the floor.
Good morning, Toast said cautiously.
Hey Toast, I said tiredly. How was your sleep?
Not as interrupted as yours. We’re going to be tired today…
Yeah, I know.
Last night went… better than I thought, he admitted. I was so certain she’d be disgusted.
No, Toast. All she wanted to do was hug you and apologize. She’s very fond of you, I said, and Toast grew quiet for a while. I gave him time to think and rubbed a crusty, bleary eye. I really needed to take a bath before we left. Great gods, I must smell dreadful.
There was a lot of tension last night… Toast noted.
Yes, Toast, we got a little wound up, but I didn’t do anything. I stopped before the temptation became too much. I wouldn’t violate your trust like that.
I appreciate that… he murmured, seeming lost in thought. S he is good to us, Keyon. M-maybe we should think about rewarding her.
What does that mean? I asked, intrigued by this line of thought.
I… I agree with your thoughts on how… she deserves better. I don’t… Toast struggled to find the words, and I let him work through his feelings. I feel good that she’s relieved, knowing my… phobia. I want her to keep feeling good. I w-want her to be happy. He began to get anxious, but he wasn’t having a panic attack, not yet.
Hatchling steps, big guy. What do you want me to do? I asked plainly. No one here is rushing you into anything. You’re already pushing yourself pretty hard.
He was quiet for a while, then seemed to come to a firm decision. Keep her happy, Keyon. Just… don’t mate her. Don’t join with her… I’m not ready. If our mate wants to let off some steam… just… keep her happy. I don’t want us to lose her .
For the love of the Sun God, Toast, she’s not that kind of female. She’s not going to hate us for not touching her, I said as calmly as I could. I wanted to admonish him for misjudging our mate, but he was too delicate for that right now.
I said what I said, Keyon. Just… warn me before you do anything , he replied nervously. Oh, and if you get a finger stuck in her, I will never sleep again for the rest of my life, and I’ll hate you for an eternity.
I couldn’t help it. I burst into quiet but appalled laughter. Toast! Where the fuck did you hear that garbage? That’s not possible. Your imagination is a complete asshole, big guy.
And if you could check for teeth first, that would real—
Oh my fucking gods, Toast! Not. Possible.
Then why are their nether parts called lips? Where there are lips, there are tee—
We’re done talking about this, I snapped decisively. I’ve heard your request, I’ll follow it, and I don’t want to hear any more talk about teeth, so help me. You do know I had sex before I turned eighteen.
Don’t remind me… he replied, making a gagging noise.
Ok, well, since you’ve given me permission, I’m going to cuddle our mate now because I think she’d like that. Too late for take-backsies, I asserted and swept all the pillows and blankets off the bed. A complicated swirl of approval and discomfort came from my dragon as he tucked himself away.
I scooted up to Elpis and gently laid an arm over her waist. With her silky hair in front of me, the temptation to nuzzle into it was too great, and I savored her sweet and earthy scent. The mate bond swept over me, and I closed my eyes, basking in her presence. I was almost too excited to go back to sleep. I couldn’t wait to tell her how well Toast did. She was going to be so happy about that.
Elpis stirred under me and mumbled, “You laughed earlier. Everything ok?”
I nodded into her hair and whispered, “Yes, now go back to sleep. It’s still early. ”
“I worked so hard to build that wall, and now you’re the one attacking me,” she grumbled.
My face heated up in embarrassment. “Sorry, Toast gave me permission, and I got a little zealous,” I said, realizing too late what I’d done. I rolled away from her, but she grabbed on and came with me, hugging me from behind like a squirrel.
“Iz too late,” she said drowsily into my back. “Yer warm and you can’t escape now,” she finished with a yawn. I smiled into the pillow, grateful that she hadn’t considered my approach unwanted. That had been a little risky on my part.
She murmured, “The slave cages were always so cold… Zosime and I would cuddle like this all the time, but it was never enough…” She didn’t sound sad recounting the memory, but I felt a pang in my heart. “I think if we’d been human, those conditions would have killed us.”
“Fuck…” I groaned and turned to face her. Tucking her arms between us, I pulled her close to keep her warm. “It kills me we hadn’t gotten there sooner, Elpis.”
“It’s just a memory now. I have nightmares, but I’m happy as long as I wake from them,” she whispered, nuzzling into my chest. “You smell good.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Not possible. I’m planning on a bath before leaving.” She shrugged and stayed burrowed into my chest. Her fingers slowly traced around my muscles as she rested, and I watched them warily. When she ran a thumb over one of my nipples, I flinched and released a low, warning growl.
“Careful what you’re doing with those hands, Elpis,” I rumbled into the top of her head.
“Am I allowed to touch your chest now?” she asked, and I sighed, humming a yes. I endured her tingling, delightful touch but was not unaffected. Groaning silently, I accepted that I would have to deal with an erection in the bathtub later. I’d have to take care of this one. I was too fucking pent-up.
Her fingers traced down my abdomen, circling around individual muscles like she was trying to memorize them. On several occasions, she’d touch a sensitive spot, and I’d jerk my hips in surprise, shuddering from head to toe. She palmed my chest and dragged it all the way down until her middle finger hooked into my belly button. She let go to rake her fingers through the coarse hair that led to my very aroused cock. I jerked again at her touching such sensitive skin, and when she reached the waistband, I slid out of bed with a groan.
“It’s t-too good, Elpis. I need to go. I’m just going to wash now. Feel free to keep sleeping. I’ll wake you up later,” I said and rushed out before she could say anything.
I turned on the tap and watched the tub fill with piping hot water. With my own soap in hand, I eased into the bath, sighing in pleasure. One of the best parts about ending a mission was taking a soak at home. It was unfortunate that this wasn’t the end of my mission, but I could pretend for a second that it was.
I closed my eyes and grabbed my cock, which had grown to excessive proportions. It throbbed in my hands and yelled at me for neglecting it, so I gripped it hard and began sliding up and down. Between the heat my cock was generating and the hot water, I felt like I was being embraced by fire. I tilted my head back and moaned, breathing out a flame to mentally redirect some heat.
I pictured this suite as the home I shared with Elpis to start our family. Last night had ended differently in my imagination. When she’d lifted her leg to place it on my hip, I’d ripped her undergarment clean off her. I pictured pressing against her sex for the first time, parting her gently to prepare her for our joining. I clenched my jaw, feeling a wave of arousal at the thought of her juices flooding from her core to help ease my iron-hard cock into her channel. I’d push inch by fucking inch to bury myself to the hilt, then watch her face glow with deep satisfaction at how I filled her. Then I’d begin pumping into her tight lit—
There was a knock on the bathroom door, and I withered in misery. I was cursed. My cock and I were cursed.
“What is it?” I asked, trying not to snap. “Only come in if you understand what you’re interrupting, female. ”
The door creaked open, and Elpis’s head popped in, eyeing how I languidly pumped at my swollen cock in the bath. I looked right back at her, unashamed, and said dryly, “We really need to stop meeting like this, Elpis.”
Elpis stared at my cock. “Am I allowed to touch it now?”
“What?” I asked with an incredulous laugh, continuing to idly pump at my length. I absolutely refused to lose my erection and momentum over this interruption. I stared her down as I rubbed the engorged, nearly purple tip of my shaft.
“If I could touch your chest, does that mean I can touch your cock now?” she asked all too innocently. She was serious.
“Euhh…” I hesitated, thrown for a moment. “Only if that pleases you.” Toast wanted me to keep her pleased. Did this count? She walked cautiously in like she was stalking prey, and I growled a warning when she got closer. “Just don’t start something you can’t finish, female. I. Am. Very. Pent. Up.”
“I never do!” she said confidently, and another pang struck my heart. Even though she responded like she didn’t care, I wished I hadn’t said that. Of course she never did; she’d never had a choice.
I lathered my hair while watching Elpis sit by the tub and reach into the water. The closer her hand got, the tighter my abdomen wound, and suddenly, I was extremely nervous again. Her left hand grabbed the base of my cock while the right went straight for the tip. The tingles from the mate touch nearly made me explode on the spot, and I moaned with pleasure. Her palm rested on the head, and she draped her fingers down along the shaft before dragging her fingers up, pressing inward. I bucked my hips and groaned. What the fuck was that!
“Great fucking shit gods what!” I exclaimed from the odd technique and the pleasure it generated. My claws extended and scrabbled to grip at the porcelain tub, but it was too slippery. I glanced at her, near panting as she repeated the stroke. She was just staring demurely through her eyelashes. No doubt she was putting everything she learned into this .
“Fuuuck!” I leaned my head back and scrubbing my palms over my eyes. I braced myself with my feet against the base of the tub and raised my hips into her hand. When she lured my cock completely out of the water, her hands returned, but they were lubricated this time. Her right fist slid downward, twisting and squeezing along the way, and the left fist started at the top just before the other one reached the bottom so it all felt like a never-ending stroke.
“Great gods, Elpis, what the fuck!” I gritted through my teeth, awash in ecstasy and arousal. I didn’t think I was going to last much longer, but I really wanted to keep enjoying this moment—this impossible moment. She slowed, and I opened my eyes, watching feverishly as she lowered her mouth, aiming to take me between her lips. I could hardly believe it.
A rapping at the suite’s front door had her lips stopping an inch from my tip. “Ignore it,” I begged with a growl. She moved to take me in again, but the knocking turned relentless. I bared my teeth, snarled, and dunked my hair to rinse it out before leaving the bathtub. I very nearly opened the door without a towel to show the asshole exactly what he was interrupting.
I was extremely glad I didn’t.
With a towel wrapped around my hips, I opened the door to find a ten-year-old hatchling fidgeting anxiously. He looked over his shoulder before rushing into the suite. I closed the door behind him and tilted my head. “Are you ok, hatchling?” I asked, confused and a bit concerned. He was squirming as if he had to pee and worrying his hands around his little hat.
“Sigeberht sent me, sir. He wanted me to tell you there are soldiers in town asking about you and the lady,” the hatchling said, jerking his head at Elpis.
“Soldiers?” I asked, pulling my chin back in surprise. “The king’s soldiers?”
“Ah… didn’t specify, sir,” the hatchling said. “Just told me that you needed to leave town now. There’s coins on yer head.”
“Oh my goddess,” Elpis whispered and ran to the bedroom .
I grabbed several coins from my purse and handed them to the young male. “You were brave coming here, hatchling. Run along but don’t draw attention. Give Sigeberht our thanks when it’s clear.”
I opened the door, and the hatchling darted out as fast as a falcon on the wind. I tossed everything into my bag, threw on my clothes, and checked the suite windows to see which one would be the best for our escape. Leaving through the front would just increase the number of witnesses or the odds of running right into the soldiers. I opened the kitchen window to find it over a short alley. Good enough.
I snatched Elpis’s bag from her and tossed both of ours down into the alley. Then I climbed through the window and whispered, “Get on my back, Elpis. Hurry.” I spread my wings as she crawled over me and wrapped her legs around my waist. I jumped off the ledge, flapped several times to slow our descent, and let her off me. We grabbed our bags and walked toward the town’s east exit to avoid drawing additional attention. I kept my ears open for the soldiers, and we found ourselves leaving town without incident.
“If they came from the castle, they’ve already traveled through here,” I murmured mostly to myself, thinking out loud. “They likely won’t sweep through the area, but we should keep to the trees as much as possible until we reach the mountains.”
“Why are they after us?” Elpis asked anxiously.
“I’m guessing they still want to kill me and take you. What the fuck is going on?” I brushed my wet hair from my eyes. “I can’t tell if they want you specifically or if they just need everyone from Adelmar’s mansion. Did they only want to kill me because I was in their way, or did they have orders to kill me? As far as the coins on my head, am I wanted alive or dead? Ahh! I have so many questions! I really hope Leofwine can answer some of this shit. I can’t imagine the king ordering something like this. He used to trust me completely. Is he well? Fuck!”
Elpis’s hand slipped into mine and squeezed it. I calmed down a little as the bond swelled into me, offering pleasure and comfort. I heaved a sigh and let my shoulders drop .
“We’ll figure it out,” she said confidently. “I won’t let anyone hurt you!”
I looked down at her with a wry expression, and I could see that she was trying not to laugh. “I am so relieved to have your protection, moonflower,” I replied dryly.
She waved her hand magnanimously. “Anytime, sunflower!”
I snorted. “Please don’t.” She cackled and grabbed her stomach. However, her laughter was cut short by a wince, and she clapped a hand to her forehead.
Alarmed, I asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Headache,” she complained, wincing again. “Just came out of nowhere.”
“Do you want to stop? We could find a quiet place to rest,” I offered, hating that I couldn’t offer her relief through our bond.
“Nay… it’s ok, I— Ow!” She added her other hand to her forehead and stumbled. I grabbed her arm to steady her and looked around to make sure we still weren’t being followed. We’d put a little distance between us and the town, but I didn’t want to stop yet.
Permission to carry her, Toast? Mate’s not well , I asked.
Granted… I hope it’s not serious.
I could help her if it gets worse. Just giving you a warning.
I see. Thanks for letting me know.
“Elpis, I’m going to carry you a bit so you can close your eyes. I just want to get a little farther from town,” I said, stopping and facing her.
She worried at her lower lip. “I know you’re built like a muscly god, but I’m a female of average height. Are you su—”
“Great gods, Elpis.” I leaned down to pick her up with ease. “You’re like lifting a newly hatched. I’d juggle you, but I don’t want to make your headache worse.”
“Liar.” She laughed weakly against my chest. “But I won’t turn down this very soft pillow.”
“Liar.” I snorted back, making her giggle. A hiss of pain fell from her throat, so I decided to stop talking.
I walked with her almost all day, stopping to give her bits of food and water. By the early evening, she started writhing from pain, and that was when I began to get deeply concerned. I set her down on her blanket and built her a nice, big fire. Sensing game nearby, I had Toast bring back a deer, which I proceeded to butcher and cook over the fire.
Elpis was curled up in a ball and crying softly while I tried to feed her. “What pain are you feeling? Is it just your head or…?”
“M-my head hurts. Everything is brighter and louder. I feel like throwing up…” she described with quivering lips.
“Hmm, sounds like a migraine,” I murmured and brushed her hair from her face.
“N-never had one be-f-f-fore,” she said with a shiver. I frowned and took the leap.
“I can help you with this, Elpis, if you want me to,” I said quietly.
“Do it! I can’t tolerate it anymore,” she sobbed.
“Ok well, first you need to stop crying because the more dehydrated you get, the worse your head’s going to get,” I warned gently, handing her the canteen. She took several long, greedy gulps and put it down, sighing and nodding.
“Now I’m going to need you to take your underwear off, Elpis,” I said with a sigh. I steadied her hips as she stood and reached under her skirts to remove them. I didn’t know if I should be grateful that she seemed to trust me enough to do it or worried that she did it without a question.
I fetched her bottle of lubricant from her bag and settled behind her. Positioning Elpis between my legs, I leaned her against my chest while snaking a hand under her skirts. “I’m going to make you orgasm, ok? The brain releases chemicals that will help your headache feel better. You’re going to have to do half of the work, though. Do your best not to focus on the pain and think of something or someone you like—anything that arouses you. Just try. Can you do that? ”
She nodded and leaned her head back, trying to relax. I could tell she was nervous. That was ok because I was fuckin’ nervous too. I hadn’t done anything like this in ages.
Alright, Toast, I’m going in, I warned him.